The Flix 66 Podcast

On the third season finale of Flix 66, Azusa Pacific University professors Ryan Izay and Dr. Thomas Parham are joined by student reviewer Aaron Linneman and alumni critic Ryan Barnes to discuss COVID-19's impact on film and television.

Topics include:
• The smackdown AMC & Regal plan to give Universal Pictures because of video-on-demand
• Upcoming Netflix projects from APU Cinema friends Sheryl J. Anderson (Sweet Magnolias) and Heather Jeng Bladt (Social Distance)
• Disney+ big plans for May the Fourth (be with you) and updates on other tentpole franchises
• Our recommendations for binge viewing

On a special Good Friday edition of Flix 66, Azusa Pacific University professors Ryan Izay and Dr. Thomas Parham are joined by special guest Dr. Zachary Cheney to discuss:

• Favorite Jesus films

• Favorite Faith-Based films (made by/or for people of faith)

• Favorite films with Spiritual Themes (not made by/or for people of faith)

On Flix 66 Episode 38, "Coronavirus vs. Hollywood… and the World," Azusa Pacific University professors Ryan Izay and Dr. Thomas Parham are joined by student reviewer Aaron Linnemann to discuss the major film releases studios have rescheduled because of COVID-19, as well two TV shows that will end without airing proper series finales. The "review crew" also reveals the movies and shows they've been watching while sidelined the past few weeks.

On Flix 66 Episode 37, "Social Distancing Special," Azusa Pacific University professors Ryan Izay and Dr. Thomas Parham are joined by student reviewer Aaron Linneman to discuss effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the entertainment industry. They also suggest television series to binge and films to watch while you maintain a safe, social distance to avoid spreading the coronavirus.

On Flix 66 Episode 36, "2010s: The Decade in Review," Azusa Pacific University professors Ryan Izay and Dr. Thomas Parham are joined by special guest Dr. Zach Cheney to discuss our favorites from 2010-2019.
• Our Top 10 Films
• Our Top 10 Television Series

On Flix 66 Episode 35, "Why’d the Birds Lay an Egg?" Azusa Pacific University professor Dr. Thomas Parham and student critic Aaron Linneman discuss:
• Box-Office Report: Sonic the Hedgehog races to a record opening for a videogame-based film while Birds of Prey loses altitude
• The latest TV and film news, including the Disney+ plans to reboot The Mighty Ducks, the Oscar-winning filmmaker that Showtime is pairing with Jude Law for a new miniseries, and the actors cast as Elvis Presley’s parents for Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming biopic
• Feature Stories:

  ◊ 2019 Oscar Winners: Surprises and Snubs

  ◊ Birds of Prey Lays an Egg - What happened?
 Rotten Tomatoes critical aggregate 80% - audience score 81% - $33 million opening, far below expectations

Ricky Staub graduated from Azusa Pacific University in May 2006 with a B.A. in Theater Arts. His student film "Jaded"--which he wrote and starred in--won the 2006 Reel Spirituality/Los Angeles Film Studies Center Film Award, the 2007 Imago Award, and was a semi-finalist for the 2006 Angelus Awards.

After graduation, Ricky's production credits included The Last Airbender, Devil, and Snow White and the Huntsman before a series of divine appointments led him to co-found Neighborhood Film Company and Working Film Establishment, both based in Philadelphia, PA. He received the Gold Young Director award at the 64th Cannes Lion International Festival of Creativity for his short film "The Cage," a story set in Philly about youth, violence, and basketball.

Ricky is currently overseeing post-production on Concrete Cowboys, his directorial debut, which he adapted from the book Ghetto Cowboy with his longtime writing partner Dan Walser, who is also one of the film's producers. It stars Idris Elba (Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, Luther), Jharrel Jerome (2006 Emmy Award winner for When They See Us), Lorraine Toussaint (Orange Is the New Black), Method Man (The Deuce), and Caleb McLaughlin (Stranger Things).

On Flix 66 Episode 33, Azusa Pacific University professors Ryan Izay and Dr. Thomas Parham are joined by student critic Aaron Linneman to discuss:
• Box-Office Forecast: Bad Boys for Life will continue its reign Super Bowl weekend, but Birds of Prey--which has good buzz from preview audiences--will dethrone the boys Oscar weekend
• The latest TV and film news, including Sir Patrick Stewart's surprise for Whoopi Goldberg, the actor cast as Queen Elizabeth II for The Crown's fifth and final season, and the next Disney animated classic slated for a live-action remake
• Feature Story: Handicapping the Oscars

• Our takes on "Should Win / Will Win" for the major categories
• We rank and discuss the nine Best Picture nominees

On Flix 66 Episode 32, Azusa Pacific University professors Ryan Izay and Dr. Thomas Parham are joined by student critic Aaron Linneman to discuss:
• Weekend box-office preview -- Bad Boys for Life and Dolittle
• The latest TV and film news, including the hot HBO series that won't have a second season, details about NBCUniversal's Peacock streaming service, and the classic World War II film that 's getting a modern remake from Warner Bros.
• Feature Stories: 2020 Oscar Nomination Snubs and Surprises, plus overlooked gems from 2019

This week on Flix 66, Azusa Pacific University professors Ryan Izay and Dr. Thomas Parham are joined by student critic Aaron Linnemann to discuss:

• Weekend Box Office Recap

• TV & Film News, including the new, fall drama CBS has renewed for season two, HBO Max's launch date and price point, and the Academy Award winner who will play Elizabeth Taylor in an upcoming biopic.

• Feature Stories:

◊ AppleTV+ launched today. Is it worth checking out?

◊ "Who Watches the Watchmen?" We do!